Apparatus for handling grain.



No. 700,886. Patented May 27, I902.

A. ATKINSON.

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING GRAIN.

(Application filed Feb. 4, 1901.)

2 $heets$heat I.

(No Model.

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m i n-- J nc WUWMO um [Mm M Patented May 27, I902. A. ATKINSON. APPARATUS FDR HANDLING GRAIN.

(Application flled Feb. 4, 1901.!

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

ARTHUR ATKINSON, OF W'INNIPEG, CANADA.

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING GRAIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 700,886, dated May 27, 1902.

A Application filedIEebruary 4, 19 01. Serial No. 45,958. (No model.)

To (tZZ whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR ATKINSON, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at WVinnipeg, in the county of Selkirk and Province of Manitoba, Canada, have invented a new and useful Apparatus for Handling Grain, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved apparatus for handling grain; and the object of my invention is to minimize the labor and expense in handling the grain; and it consists of a portable elevator apparatus constructed and arranged in detail as hereinafter more particularly explained.

My portable elevator, which is to be easily movable from place to place, is designed to elevate the grain from below the level of the wagon or other vehicle in which it is conveyed into the warehouse-tank and thence into the grain-car direct with minimum injury to the quality of the wheat; and it consists in the construction hereinafter described,and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

Figure l is a perspective view of my machine when in position for moving, showing part of the tube cut away. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of my machine when in the working position. Figs. 3 and 4 are details of the bearings and pivotal attachment of the tube. Fig. 5 is a detail of the upper end of the tube. Fig. 6 is a detail of the lower end of the tube. sprocket driving-gear. tail sections of a conveyer-spout. I

In the drawings like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each figure.

A is the movable truck or stand on which the frame Bis secured. The frame 13 consists of substantially upright supports 17 and cross-scantlings b andis braced and strengthened by slanting struts 12 A platform 19 is supported on the top of this frame.

0 is the elevating-tube, which is preferably made of sheet metal. Intermediate of the ends of this tube is a pair of encircling bands D, which are caused to grip the tube by tightening the bolts 01 in the lugs d. These bands D are riveted or otherwise connected to a curved plate E, having a projection e on its under side. A hole e runs through this pro- Fig. 7 shows the chain-and, Figs. 8 and 9 are de two upright supports g g, connected by a base g and a strengthening cross-web g". This bearing-frame rests on and is bolted to a block H, preferably of wood, which is supported on the platform 19 By the means above described the inclination of the tube may be varied as desired. A bolt it passes loosely through the platform 5 and the blockH and screws into the base g of the casting or bearing-frame G. WVhen this bolt is loosened, the block H, and consequently the tube 0, may be turned around to any desired angle in a horizontal sense. It may then be secured in the desired position by tightening the bolt h,

for which purpose a double lover I may be provided.

Having now described the means of supporting the tube 0 and the means for turning itin a horizontal manner orvvarying its inclination on its pivot, I will proceed to describe the mechanism for raising the grain.

At the lower end of the tube 0 a pair of sprockets .I is supported on an axle j, journaled in suitable bearings ",which are formed in the end piece or boot K of the tube 0. In the opposite end of the tube a similar pair of sprockets L are supported onan axle Z, which is journaled in suitable adjustable bearings Z.

'A pair of endless chains M pass over these sprockets, and to these" chains at equal intervals of distance'cups N are securely fastened.

The tube 0 is divided internally into two halves by a thin longitudinal partition 0, which extends almost the entire length of the tube. On the under side of this partition the rising line of cups passes and on the upper side is the returning line in an endless chain. The tube 0 is provided with slightly-enlarged ends P and Q to allow of the cups passing over the sprockets J and L.

The upper end Q of the tube 0 has an enlargement or extensionq. To this extension a flexible spout R is attached with a swiveling connection 0". At or near its end this flexible spout is provided with a suitable means of stopping the flow of grain. The

endless chain 8 passes over this sprocket and.

over another sprocket T, supported on a shaft 1., which is journaled in suitable bearings below the bearings F and supported on the same bearing block or frame G. Power is supplied to this shaft from any suitable source;

but the preferable means which I employ is a pulley U, driven by a belt to, which in turn is driven from the pulley of a gas-engine or other suitable power.

V is a support fastened to the frame B and in which the tube (J rests when not in use. A bandW is secured to the tube and is provided with projectinglugsw. When the tube is in the working position, (shown in Fig. 2,) the hooks w are inserted in eyes in the lugs w, and thus the tube is held firmly in position.

The lower end of the tube 0 is provided with a hopper c to receive the grain from the garner, (not shown,) into which the grain has been previously dumped when unloaded from wagons or other vehicles or other irregular sources of supply. The hopper 0 also serves to provide a ready means for receiving the grain directly from the spout leading from the grain-tank or other regular and controllable source of supply on account of such hopper,when the tube is in the operative position, being in close proximity to the ground.

By means of the adjustable bearings l the chains M and S may be tightened or loosened at will.

In Fig. 1 my portable elevator is shown with the tube in the preferable position for moving it from place to place. On arriving at the spot where the work is to be done the bolt 71 is loosened and the tube 0 is swung around and tilted into the position shown in Fig. 2. The bolts d may then be loosened, and the point of support of the tube may be adjusted longitudinally to any desired position, when the bolts dare tightened again. The hooks w are inserted in the eyes in the lugs to and the belt it put on the pulley, and the elevator is ready to work. The chains of cups N being driven by means of the chain S and the pulley U take the grain from the hopper o and raising it to the top of the tube 0- allow it to fall into the spout R, and thence it is directed into the bin, tank, car, or other receptacle.

It will be noticed that the lower line of cups in the tube 0 raise the grain and not the upper line. This is an important feature of my invention, as in ordinary elevators the grain is brought up by the upper line of cups and is generally thrown with some force against the end of the tube, and in this manner the smut-balls are broken and the value of the grain is considerably diminished. By my method of bringing the grain up the lower side of the tube and allowing it to fall gently into the spout the number of smut -balls broken is greatly diminished.

What I claim as my invention is-- 1. In a portable elevator for grain and the like, the combination with the truck, and supporting-frame, of a tube, encircling bands in which said tube is adjustably held, bolts for tightening said encircling bands, a curved plate secured to said encircling bands, and havinga projection on its underside in which is a circular hole, a shaft or spindle passing through said hole, hearings in which said shaft is journaled, a bearing-frame supporting said bearings, ablock on which said bearing-frame is firmly secured, a platform to which said block and bearings are pivotally attached, and, means for raising grain and the like in said tube, as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a portable elevator for grain and the like, the combination with the truck and supporting-frame, of a tube having a suitable 'flexible outlet-spout, the hearings in which such tube is suitably supported, a bearingframe supporting said bearings, a block on which such bearing-frame is firmly secured,

ARTHUR ATKINSON.

\Vitnesses:

L. TRIMBLE, H. G. S. GAMY. 

